Water Heater Problems: Water Heater Troubleshooting Guide
When you experience water heater problems at your Los Angeles home, many of your everyday tasks suddenly become inconvenient and in some cases almost impossible to accomplish. Whether this means having to put off doing your laundry, washing your family’s dishes in cold water only, or even having to endure taking a cold shower before heading off to work, it becomes quite clear just how important your home’s water heater is on a daily basis.
Because of this, it is important that you be able to detect when your water heater may first begin to experience problems and know what steps need to be taken. To help you understand common water heater problems and much more about water heater maintenance, water heater installation, and water heater repair, our team here at Boss Plumbing has put together this comprehensive water heater troubleshooting guide.
Why Would a Water Heater Suddenly Stop Working?
Even though it may seem as if your water heater is durable enough to last forever, the fact is most of today’s water heaters are made to last 10-15 years or maybe a few years longer if properly maintained. Should your water heater suddenly stop working, here are a few reasons why and what may need to be done to fix the problem.
1. Broken Heating Element
A common problem with electric water heaters that may be nearing the end of their lifespan, a broken heating element means no hot water for anything. To fix this, it is usually best to have a professional plumber handle the job. It is also possible that if your water heater’s thermocouple has not been cleaned or replaced recently, having a Boss Plumbing technician handle this water heater repair can solve your problem right away.
2. Pilot Light Problems
Should you experience a low supply of hot water or have your water go from hot to cold in a hurry, there’s a good chance the water heater’s pilot light is malfunctioning. This could be due to sediment buildup on the pilot light’s wick, the age of the water heater, or a gas valve that may be experiencing issues. Since we specialize in gas water heater services here in Los Angeles, you can count on us to get your gas or electric water heater working like new in no time at all.
3. Old Age
When water heaters start making strange noises like knocking, grinding, or gurgling, this is often a sign that they are getting old and may be beyond repair. If you have a water heater that is more than 10 years old and always seems to be experiencing problems, it may be time to install a new water heater in your Los Angeles home and gain immediate peace of mind.
4. Faulty Pressure Relief Valve
When you notice your water heater leaking after you have taken a shower or done the laundry, this can be caused by a faulty pressure relief valve. Since this valve is responsible for making sure excess pressure does not build up in the tank and lead to an explosion, don’t try making these repairs on your own. Instead, call on us here at Boss Plumbing to make sure the job is done right the first time. Though this repair is somewhat easy, trying to do it without having the proper knowledge or training could be dangerous.
Replace or Repair My Water Heater?
Once your water heater does begin experiencing problems, you will of course be wondering if the best course of action will be to make repairs to your existing water heater or instead replace it with a new model. Here at Boss, we realize many factors go into making this important decision for your home.
If your water heater is older and has become very inefficient, we often recommend the installation of a tankless water heater in your Los Angeles home. When comparing a tank and tankless water heater, keep in mind that a tankless water heater only generates hot water on demand, rather than keeping a tankful of it at all times. Known for their efficiency, tankless water heaters often save our customers money in the long-run on their water bills.
We also recommend getting a new water heater when your existing water heater constantly needs maintenance services that never seem to last very long. Whether it’s heating elements, valves, or other parts, getting a new water heater will save you time and money while giving you the peace of mind you and your family deserve.
Generally, unless the repair is very simple and your water heater is still only a few years old, we tend to find that water heater replacement is more cost-efficient to our customers than pouring money into repairs that likely won’t last very long.
Call a Plumber or DIY Water Heater Repair?
Even though some repairs like replacing a thermocouple, pilot light, or even a pressure-relief valve are considered to be somewhat easy by plumbing standards, this does not mean they are necessarily easy DIY projects.
Unless you are comfortable doing plumbing repairs and have the necessary skills to do so, we feel it is best to let an experienced professional plumber handle most water heater repairs. Remember that even if your water heater is experiencing a small problem, making a critical mistake could be very expensive and potentially dangerous as well.
Contact Us for Professional and Trusted Water Heater Services
When your water heater stops working, we here at Boss Plumbing can often provide same-day service for repairs or installations. Trusted by our Los Angeles customers for over 30 years, our water heater services are some of the highest-rated here in Los Angeles.
Contact us today to schedule your service call. By doing so, you’ll get outstanding customer service you just can’t get anywhere else in Los Angeles.
